Niall O'Connor

THERE ARE GROWING concerns among gardaí and security officials that renewed international attention on a Russian-owned factory in Co Limerick could increase the risk of protests or an attack on the facility, sources have said. 

The Aughinish Alumina factory in Foynes is already the focus of intelligence work by gardaí and other State agencies. However, The Journal understands there are now significant concerns that the facility could become the scene of protests or even be directly targeted.

Sources said the risk could come from a lone actor or from groups with an interest in the plant’s Russian links and its role in the international alumina supply chain.

The plant has previously been targeted by protesters, who daubed paint at the entrance to the facility.

More recently, an improvised explosive device was found at the plant. This is believed to have been the work of a disturbed suspect from Northern Ireland.

The device, which had gas canisters connected to a car battery, was defused by Irish Defence Forces experts. 

Two senior security sources said Russia’s involvement in the plant, along with concerns that material from the facility is ultimately being used for military purposes in Russia’s war against Ukraine, could lead some people to view it as a legitimate target.

Oleg Deripaska (right) and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting of the Business Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum in 2014. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Foynes to the Kremlin

The alumina refinery is owned by the Russian company Rusal, which has links to Oleg Deripaska, the billionaire oligarch and close associate of Vladimir Putin.

In 2022, Deripaska was sanctioned by the US over Russia’s annexation of Crimea. That same year, The Journal reported that he had also been sanctioned by the British government following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Aughinish Alumina plant, located near Foynes on the Shannon estuary, is Europe’s largest alumina refinery. It employs around 450 people and includes a port and a large refinery. It has also been said to support hundreds of other jobs locally.

Deripaska has resigned from his leadership roles and has criticised the invasion of Ukraine, but remains a shareholder in Rusal.

Rusal has continued to provide raw materials for the Russian war effort, which has caused significant discomfort for the Irish government in recent weeks.

The oligarch remains heavily connected with Russian politics and has been photographed attending events in the Kremlin.

Reports this week said Deripaska and other oligarchs have provided billions of euro to help prop up Russia’s war fund for its invasion of Ukraine.

The Irish Times reported that a massive 83% of alumina from the Limerick plant went to Russia in the first quarter of this year. The Irish government disputed the figure, saying the factory had informed it that the figure was was 45%. The government has asked the CSO to examine the matter.

An investigation by a number of European media outlets, including The Irish Times, claimed that alumina shipments from the Limerick plant to Russia were converted into aluminium at a number of smelting plants in Russia. That aluminium was allegedly then sold by a Moscow-based aluminium trader to a range of weapons manufacturers.

The product is regularly shipped directly from the Limerick plant to Russia. The facility has its own secure jetty.

The issue of ongoing trade with Russia has put pressure on the Irish government, both domestically and internationally. Sources said the government’s approach has been to protect the local economy and jobs while simultaneously managing wider political and security concerns.

Aughinish Alumina, Aluminum refinery plant, Shannon Estuary, Ireland. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

The Aughinish plant is a highly secure facility, with a large number of security guards and high-end surveillance systems. These include CCTV and cameras that use automatic number plate recognition software to monitor specific vehicles moving around the area.

There is regular contact between the plant and gardaí, with a senior officer appointed to liaise directly with the factory.

Aughinish is not only a security concern: the plant has also been the focus of environmental concerns in the area.

The EU has investigated “red waste” pools at the site, while environmental groups have raised concerns about large ponds holding bauxite waste. A number of environmental groups have also challenged applications connected to the expansion of the facility.